Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To be confused about how depression is diagnosed

23 replies

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 10:53

I suppose I'm asking any GPs or people in the know?

I fit many of the symptoms some of the time but other times I feel fine, or is that just because I'm busy and don't have time to dwell? I don't know.

Does it depend on how much you feel these things? It can be confusing. I know when asked about pain on a scale of 1 to 10 my brother would always be 'oh at least a 9, I am in agony!' while I tend to downplay things a bit more.

I suppose - any pointers would be useful :)

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 11:05

There's a questionnaire. I will have a look and see if I can link.

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 11:07

www.nhs.uk/tools/pages/depression.aspx

The GP gave me something like this in paper form to complete.

Queenofknickers · 19/04/2015 11:08

My psychiatrist uses the Beck Depression Inventory - sorry can't link but google should bring it up.

Original poster

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 11:10

Yes but don't you find questionnaires awkward for things like this? I suppose what I'm experiencing is s shift in mood sometimes on an hourly basis. It would be easy for anybody to conclude they have severe depression based on a questionnaire alone :) - do you see what I mean? My score was 10, so I'm not depressed - just moody I think!

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 11:13

It was quite good for me because I realised how long I had been feeling like it IYKWIM. But I already knew I would have a high score before I filled it in, and I guess I knew I was very depressed.

A shift in mood hourly doesn't sound like a spiral into depression but I am not an expert.

You need to chat with your GP too.

redskirt · 19/04/2015 11:15

For major depression, the major symptoms are feeling sad for the majority of the time, significant change in appetite, disturbed sleep, loss of ability to enjoy activities that are once pleasurable, negative ruminations (ie going over and over stuff in your head).

Original poster

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 11:16

It's hard as I rather suspect I would have more symptoms if I had more time, which sounds ridiculous but at the moment I am focusing everything on spinning plates. As soon as I have a rare minute I feel absolutely awful. At the same time, exhaustion is a contributor to that!

OP posts:

littlejohnnydory · 19/04/2015 11:18

There are problems with self rating scales but they provide some information about your symptoms. Your GP would (hopefully, if he or she is a decent one) chat to you about your thoughts and feelings and their impact on your life, and discuss with you whether you feel you need treatment. The extent to which it affects your life is probably the key thing.

It isn't as black and white as 'yes - depressed / no - not depressed' and there is no definitive test. Everyone's mood fluctuates whether they are depressed or not. It is common with depression for mood to lift towards the end of the day and feel low in the mornings (called diurnal mood variation). But not everyone with depression will have the same symptoms, the same severity and it is definitely possible to suffer from depression whilst feeling ok some of the time.

Original poster

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 11:19

Yes, that's very true - thank you.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 11:21

I had the mood variation thing. It was awful. 7am in the morning=awful 7pm on the evening=much better.

Original poster

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 11:23

Yes, only mine is the other way around!

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 11:27

So could tiredness be playing a part. By the evening you are tired and ratty/short fuse/stressed. Rather than depression/anxiety?

Do you have DC?

Original poster

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 11:29

Yes, and never stop. Just so much stress right now. Nothing unmanageable - but you know when you are tired anyway and everything is excacerbated?

OP posts:

ShowYourVeracity · 19/04/2015 11:40

My first thought to your posts is that, if you are very busy and "spinning plates" it is possibly not depression - in my experience, depression results in not being able to cope and keep everything going. However, we are all different, so I could be wrong on this and perhaps that is just how it manifests in me.

You mention being tired a lot. For me, my mental health and tiredness are linked in a circular way. As said above, depression is not an all or nothing thing, and mental health/wellbeing has many aspects and I think the point is, whether you are depressed, or just worn out or something else, you are not feeling quite right with how you are. I am not quite sure what I am trying to say...perhaps just that you sound like you would benefit from taking some time to just look after yourself - if that is possible, which sometimes it just isn't.

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 11:41

Oh yes. When the DC were Primary age (teens now) I used to feel like I spent the evenings in a whirl of stressy tired shouting about everything. And the thinking ahead and the general 'making sure everything was ok for everyone'. Your needs feel bottom of the pile.

Original poster

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 11:43

Yes, unfortunately at the moment it just isn't possible. I suffered a close bereavement last year, work antisocial hours and am drained, I suppose.

OP posts:

ProudAS · 19/04/2015 11:47

IMO (not medically qualified but long term sufferer) it becomes a medical condition rather than part of the normal emotional range when it affects ability to function in day to day life.

Might be worth seeing a different GP - I've found I work better with some than others.

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 11:47

Just a thought but do you think some counselling may help? I know it gets suggested a lot on here and people have v mixed views but I reluctantly went and had some and did find it helpful. I was quite surprised.

Bereavement counselling can be very useful.

knowinghowtobe · 19/04/2015 11:48

I was given that questionnaire when I first went. I did keep things spinning superficially for almost a year but I don't think that was helpful as then it all broke apart because I hadn't wanted to admit it to anyone except my doctor. I was put on anti-depressants.

Original poster

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 11:49

Well, I did have counselling for a couple of months immediately after the bereavement but I have to admit that while it was nice to talk, that was largely all it felt like. Plus, I only get two evenings a week off so it took one precious evening :)

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 19/04/2015 11:50

Yes, I understand Easter. What is your support network like? Family/friends etc.

Original poster

Eastereggsareeaten · 19/04/2015 11:51

Very limited - I'm the one who supports everybody else

OP posts:

badgerinapreviouslife · 19/04/2015 12:46

It sounds like you are burning out. There's quite a good article on Oprah.com by Amy McNeil (apologies, can't copy the link as on my phone) that's worth a look. When I burnt out, I kept thinking to myself I was going crackers because I wasn't always depressed but sometimes my moods would be crushing. I had far too much on my plate, and was rushing around being overly responsible for everything and everyone.

It might be worth a look.

Flip